Modelling of an Anaerobic Process producing Biogas from Winery Wastes

Abstract

Significant instability is often exhibited by anaerobic digesters: this problem may be avoided through appropriate control strategies. Such strategies require, usually, the development of suitable mathematical models, which adequately describe the main processes that take place.
In this paper, a simple process design model is proposed, which describes an industrial plant producing biogas by anaerobic digestion of winery wastes. The required kinetic parameters have been obtained from preliminary laboratory tests. The results of the simulation have been applied to the evaluation of the viable energy use of winery wastes (exhausted grape marc) produced by a distillery of Friuli Venezia Giulia region.